Longest-Serving Ohio Disciplinary Counsel Joins Kegler Brown

January 6, 2014

Jonathan Coughlan, former disciplinary counsel for the Supreme Court of Ohio for 16 years, will join the firm’s Professional Responsibility and Disciplinary Proceedings practice as a director. Serving the longest tenure in state history, Jonathan provides a unique and distinguished understanding of the practice. He is experienced in all aspects of professional responsibility, disciplinary proceedings and is a well-known ethics expert.

Jonathan’s history includes managing more than 2,800 grievances and 45 formal complaints against lawyers and judges annually
during his tenure as disciplinary counsel. He advises clients through all stages of the disciplinary system, provides them with expert witness consultations and proposes solutions on inquiries related to professional ethics and malpractice.

Jonathan joins Geoffrey Stern, who preceded him as Ohio disciplinary counsel from 1993-1997, in the practice area. Stern and Coughlan stand as the two most recent attorneys in this role and have served for longer than half of the office’s entire existence with a combined 20 years of experience.

“I met Jon more than two decades ago and was initially impressed when we first met. I have since continued to be impressed with his personal and professional qualities,” said Stern, chair of the Professional Responsibility practice at Kegler Brown. “Jon will bring his experience, visibility and respect in the eyes of the Ohio Bar to our firm and our team could not be more honored to have him join.”

A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Jonathan has practiced civil and criminal litigation in addition to his background in attorney ethics and professional responsibility. His experience reaches across Ohio, New Hampshire and New York, where he served in roles that include public defender and assistant district attorney.

A contributor to several legal industry organizations, Jonathan is an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he teaches on issues related to professional responsibility. He is also a former president and board member of the Association of Judicial Disciplinary Counsel and frequent lecturer for the CLE Institute of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Kegler Brown’s Professional Responsibility practice was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as “#1 in Ohio for ethics and professional responsibility law,” receiving the Best Law Firm Tier 1 ranking. Geoffrey Stern has also been recognized as “2013 Lawyer of The Year” in Columbus for professional malpractice law.